Jack



Sept. 1, 1942. J GQETZ 2,294,745

JACK

Filed Dec. 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 1, 1942. J. GOE TZ 2,294,745

JACK

Filed Dec. 3, 1940 Z'Sheets-Sheet 2 26 illlll xwg 7- 7? J is N Q g in mm Patented Sept. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES JACK John Goetz, Troy, N. Y.

Application December 3, 1940, Serial No, 368,381 5 Claims. (01. 7 1-4248) This invention relates to an improved jack.

One object of the invention is to provide a jack which may be moved to operative position with the greatest facility.

Another object of the invention is to provide a jack which will lend itself particularly well for use by automobile body repair men for straightening automobile bodies which have been bent out of line.

A further object of the invention is to provide a jack of this tchara'cter'which is of such construction that it may be effectively employed for supporting the walls of ditches, excavations, wheels and the like for preventing cave-ins.

A further object of the invention is to provide a jack having a split nut which will permit movement of the shank employed in one direction without rotation of the shank but which will hold said shank against movement in the opposite direction except by rotation thereof or by rotation of the body employed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a jack wherein the shank is adapted to receive supporting tips or elements of various types.

A still further object of th invention is to provide a device of this character which may not be accidentally dislodged when in operative position.

Further objects of the invention, not specifically called to attention hereinbefore, will render themselves apparent during the course of the following description. 7

Inthe drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved jack.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view,

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the split nut employed,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the split nut,

Figure 6 is a perspective View showing one of my improved jacks as it would appear in operative position supporting the walls within an excavation,

chined metal. The body I is shown in section in Figure 3, and by referring to this figure, it will be seen that said body is hollow throughout its entire length. The body is formed, near its mid-portion'and extending upwardly therefrom, with an inwardly directed thickened portion 2, said portion defining an inverted frusto-co-nical annular cam surface 3 and, at the restricted end of said cam surface, a shoulder 4, said shoulder being located at the inner extremity of a guide sleeve 5, the purpose for which will be mentioned hereinafter.

The body I is formed with a spring chamber 6, said spring chamber being located between the upper end of the cam surface 3 and the upper end portion of said body. A groove I is formed near th upper end of-said body and is for the purpose of receiving a retaining ring 3, the function of which'will be set forth hereinafter.

As seen in Figures 1 and 3, the body is prcvided with a series of rectangular depressions, said depressions being arranged annularly and defining teeth 9 for engagement by a tooth Iii of a ratchet handle I I, said ratchet handle being engageahle for rotating the body.

My improved jack includes a shank I2 which normallyhas the greater portion of its length disposed within the body I. The shank I2 is formed throughout the major portion of its length with a thread I3, said thread having a relatively large pitch. At its upper end, the shank is formed with a reduced threaded nipple I4 on which is normally screwed a supporting tip or element I5, said element I5 having a flat surface for engagement with a Wall or other surface to be supported or braced.

Mounted within the body and normally engaged with the cam surface .3 is a split nut IS. The split nut I6 is of substantially inverted frusto-tconical shape and includes sections I1 and I8.

At their upper end portions, the sections are Figure 7 is a detail plan view showing a sup- 5 porting tip of modified construction, and

Figure 8- is a side elevation showing a still further modified form of supporting tip.

In the drawings, it will be seen that like numerals of reference designate like parts throughout the various views.

The numeral I indicates the body of my inproved jack. The body I is cylindrical in shape and is preferably formed of heavy cast and maformed with grooves H! which mate to form a ring groove 20, said ring groove normally receiving a loosely mounted ring 2I, said ring 2! permitting separation of the sections Fl and as to an extent sufficient to free the shank I2, when said shank is moved upwardly within the body I. The ring 2] does, however, .prevent complete disassociation of the sections with the result that the sections will always be retained in proper associated position. The split nut I6 is formed with a flat upper surface 22 and a thread or groove 22 In order normally to urge the split nut into operative position between the cam surface 3 and the thread I3 of the shank I2, I provide a spring 23, said spring surrounding the shank and being mounted within the spring chamber 6. The spring 23, at its lower end, bears against a washer 24 which overlies the upper surface 22 of the split nut IS. A retaining washer 25 surrounds the shank l2 and bears against the upper end of the spring for retaining said spring in place within the chamber 6. The retaining washer has an inclined edge 26 which is engaged by-the retaining ring 8, said retaining ring being disposed within the groove between the walls of said groove and said inclined edge 26,

The guide sleeve 5 normally receives a pipe 21, said pipe, however, forming no part of my invention. A suitable base 23 will, however, be carried at the outer end of the pipe for engagement with a supporting surface or a surface to be braced.

It is thought that the construction of my invention will now be clear and that the operation thereof will also be understood. However, a brief description of the operation is not thought to be out of place. When the device is used for bracing the supporting walls within an excavation, as seen in Figure 6, it is only necessary to place the base 28 against one of said walls and to shift the shank l2 outwardly with respect to the body for placing the tip l5 in engagement with the other of the supporting walls, As will be seen, it is possible to move the shank I2 outwardly with respect to the body, without laboriously rotating said shank, only because the split nut I6 is employed, the sections I1 and I8 of said split nut being separated by movement of the shank. Inasmuch as the pitch of the thread I3 is relatively wide, con sisting of an inclined surface 30 and a shoulder 3|, the sections of the split nut will be separated with the utmost facility.

As soon as the shank has been moved outwardly, the spring 23 will urge the sections I! and I8 against the cam surface 3 for engaging the thread 13 in the mating groove 22 in the split nut. It will thus be seen that movement of the shank in the opposite direction, except by rotation thereof, will be effectively prevented by the split nut.

After the shank has been moved to engage the tip IS with the wall to be braced, it will be desirable to shift the shank still further toward said wall in order that rigid bracing action will be assured. To effect this. it is only necessary to engage the tooth ll] of the ratchet handle II in one of the teeth 9. Shifting of the ratchet handle will, of course, cause rotation of the body I and, consequently, movement of the shank [2 with respect to said body and the pipe 21.

It is desired to emphasize that my invention may be used in a number of different applications. As stated in the objects, the invention lends itself particularly well for use by automobile body repair men, in view of the fact that wrecked automobile bodies which have been bent out of line, may be easily straightened. More specifically, my improved jack is placed at a desired spot on the frame so that pressure may be applied for effecting the straightening of said body. It is desired to call attention to the fact that the pipe 21 may be of any length which may be considered necessary for a particular operation. The tips shown in Figures '7 and 8, one being indicated at 32 and the other at 33, may be employed in different applications.

The device also lends itself well for use as a curb holder during street excavation work. Many other uses of the invention will, of course, suggest themselves to the user.

Attention is particularly called to the fact that the shank I2 may be drawn outwardly with respect to the body without the need of unscrewing said shank. On the other hand, however, the split nut will be immediately forced into engagement with the shank, after said shank has been moved outwardly as far as desired, for preventing inward movement except by rotating the shank,

It is believed that the construction and operation of my improved jack will now be thoroughly understood.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a jack, a cylindrical body having a thickened portion defining a cam surface, a shank having the greater portion of its length normally disposed within the body and having a thread, a split nut carried within the body and having sections, means retaining the sections in proper associated position, said split nut having a thread normally engageable with the thread of the shank and having a surface normally engageable with the cam surface, and a spring urging the sections of the split nut against the cam face whereby said sections will be moved toward the shank, the sections of the split nut being displaceable against the tension of the spring Within the limits of said means upon movement of the shank for permitting said movement of said shank in one direction without rotation thereof, said split nut preventing movement of the shank in the opposite direction except by rotation thereof.

2. In a jack, a body, a shank carried by the body and having a thread, a split nut carried by the body between the shank and said body and having sections, said split nut having a groove, a ring carried in the groove and retaining the sections of the split nut against disassociation, said body having a thickened portion defining a cam surface, and a spring carried by the body and urging the split nut into engagement with the shank whereby said shank will be prevented from shifting with respect to the body except by rotation thereof, the sections of said split nut being displaceable against tension of the spring within the limits of said ring for permitting quick movement of the shank in the opposite direction without movement of the body or shank.

3. In a jack, a body having a hollow interior and being provided with a thickened portion defining an inverted frusto-conical cam surface, said body having a spring chamber between the cam surface and the upper end of the body, said body having a groove formed in its upper end portion, a shank having a portion within the body and having a thread, a split nut carried by the body and having a surface engageable with the cam surface, and a groove engageable with the thread on the shank, a spring in the spring chamber, a retaining washer carried by thebody in the chamber for retaining the spring in the chamber, and a retaining ring engageable with the retaining washer, said spring urging the split nut into engagement with the shank whereby movement of said shank in one direction through the body may be accomplished only by rotating the shank, said split nut being shiftable against the tension of the spring for freeing the shank for permitting shifting thereof in the opposite direction without rotating the shank for effecting quick adjustment.

4. In a jack as recited in claim 3, wherein the body is formed with depressions defining an annular series of teeth, and a ratchet handle having a tooth engageable with the teeth and shiftable for rotating the body with respect to the shank.

5. In a jack, a hollow body provided with an interior cam surface and having exterior depressions defining an annular series of teeth, a shank having a portion within the body and. having a thread, a ratchet handle having a tooth engageable selectively with the teeth and shift- ,able for rotating the body with respect to the shank, and an internally threaded split nut engaging the thread on the shank and including a pair of tapered sections engaging said cam surface, said split nut being engageable with the shank for rotatably connecting the shank with the body, said sections being displaceable for permitting shifting of the shank in one direction without rotating the shank for effecting quick adjustment.

JOHN GOETZ. 

